Albania - September 2024

On 13 September, the Albanian Parliament voted for a third time against sending the mandate of the ruling Socialist Party (SP) Member of Parliament Olta Xhaçka for review in the Constitutional Court. This comes despite a ruling by the Court requiring MPs to submit Xhaçka’s mandate for review, which could lead to Xhaçka losing her seat as an MP. The case stems from a 2022 dispute in which the opposition accused then-foreign minister and current MP Olta Xhaçka of a conflict of interest, after her husband, a former SP MP, was granted "strategic investor" status to build a hotel. The Parliament's refusal to comply with the Court's ruling has drawn criticism from the opposition, analysts, and both the EU Delegation and the U.S. Embassy, as a move that undermines the separation of powers and the rule of law, whereas MPs cited their right to vote freely. As a next step, the Parliament has sought the Venice Commission's opinion on the legislature’s obligation to implement judicial decisions. The Venice Commission is set to review the issue in December. 

Sources: Balkan Insight, Tirana Times, Shqiptarja, Euronews Albania